GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Local residents joined a nationwide “Hands-off” protest on ECU campus Saturday, speaking on their concerns with the current administration.
“There has to be a national outcry of people saying, this is not who we are as Americans,” Protestor Terry Holliday says. “This is not who we want the world to see who we are as Americans, and that’s why I’m here.”
Hands off: a message Greenville residents say they want the government to hear loud and clear.
“We need a change, and I feel like recently it’s been a little but hopeless, so I wanted to make the message clear that we have power as citizens to make a change,” ECU student Allison Clemmer says.
Over a thousand mass mobilization protests across the United States drew Clemmer to organize a local protest at ECU on Saturday, she says, but was shocked after more than 500 people signed up for the event.
“I think the crowd was amazing. I’ve heard some awesome stories, and I look forward to what the momentum will bring for us,” Clemmer says.
Protestors told WITN they wish for a better future for their country.
“Things like education matter. The environment matters. Human rights matter. We’re all here because we matter, and we’re going to show up on our days off to make a point of it,” says protestor Johnnie Sabin.
Pitt County GOP Chairman Drock Vincent sent a statement to WITN about the protest, saying, “I think that it is great for Eastern NC voters to see these democrats protesting against common sense positions. Positions that mainstream democrats all supported within the past decade like securing the border, removal of criminal aliens, cutting wasteful spending, bringing back American jobs, and not allowing men to compete in women’s sports. I hope that they protest these things every weekend.”
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